Berlin, April 2 Originally, Oliver Kahn was meant to go through several months of education at the Bavarian powerhouse Bayern Munich. From 2021 on, the former German international was set to succeed Bayern Munich's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Now, proceedings seem to have sped up. Due to the coronavirus crisis, the 50-year-old has stepped out of Rummenigge's shadow and become the 2013 treble winners' leading force for several vital topics.
Kahn has slipped into the role of Bayern's crisis manager dealing with health issues, sportive issues, and visions of the future.
"Crises like this require special measures," Kahn commented, according to Xinhua news agency. "I can't make things cosy for me and place myself on the sun deck but instead I have to head for the engine room to keep the ship running and hold our ground at the operating level."
Kahn stepped up as the clubs leading force, releasing a video message to the clubs' employees together with head coach Hansi Flick.
The duo ensured the off-pitch staff's wages are guaranteed, and suitable solutions for the future are going to be taken.
Kahn's new career as an official has commenced under extreme circumstances.
The 2001 Champions League winner said he follows a participative management style as "I don't favour strict hierarchies or too rigid guidelines."
Despite his modern management tools, Kahn is aware the current crisis requires unique leadership qualities.
Leading from the front has never been more important.
"An approach like that opens doors for new creative ideas and positive changes," the eight-time German Champion commented.
Kahn is not only the driving force for the club's newly established virus task force but intensively involved in contract negotiations with team cornerstones such as Manuel Neuer as well as future squad strategies.
Kahn is talking about a state of emergency, such as "we haven't experienced before." Over 12 years after his last competitive game in Bayern's shirt, he is facing every challenge the crisis contains.
"We need to see the chances to survive this and become stronger after," he said.
All of it is vital to secure football's future at the club.
"We need to accept the pause and reflect," he emphasized, adding many things are beyond being predictable. The world of football is going to change drastically as will ordinary life.
Kahn strongly suggested that people use the current crisis to prepare for future setbacks and take it as a learning phase to initiate development.
"There will be a world after corona despite our feeling to be in the middle of a catastrophic movie. We might need to change our patterns for daily life," he said, adding it is a chance to cool down the overheated football business.
The current crisis is a resilience test, Kahn emphasized.
( With inputs from IANS )